Lawrence played volleyball for four years at Wooster, graduating in 2014. She played at Lassen JC after high school, then played in Australia.

She played on the 2013 Wooster team that went 12-15 and advanced to the Regional tournament. Lawrence wants to get the Colts back to that level and she has a plan.

“I want to make us a great team,” she said. “We were really good. We made it to playoffs for the first time in, like, 15 years, my senior year, so I want to bring that same mindset and energy into coaching here.”

She said the Colts should be able to compete with every other school.

Her family runs the Bump, Set, Spike volleyball club, for youth volleyball players ages 5-15, and she also works there.

Many of the current players are on that club team.

She said conditioning and training for the Colts will begin as soon as school ends next month.

“I’m excited to get the girls training and really focusing on the numbers this season and focusing on wins and losses and making sure we’re working towards that goal of getting to the playoffs and winning matches,” she said.

Lawrence is already familiar with many players as she coached the Wooster junior varsity the last three seasons.

Katie Lawrence talks to the returning Wooster volleyball players after being introduced Thursday as the next head coach.(Photo: Jim Krajewski)

She said being close to them in age helps her relate to the kids better.

“I’m excited and it’s going to be fun,” Lawrence said. “It will be a different experience for the girls to have somebody who is young and knows what it’s like to go to this school and is an alumni.”

Lawrence played for Ron Malcolm and said it is a little odd to replace him, but that she learned a lot from him and hopes to use what she learned.

“He was a really good mentor to have so I feel it’s a good transition from his years to a new coaching staff,” Lawrence said. “It will help the girls to have a new, young person, but still knows what it’s like to play at Wooster.”

Katie Lawrence talks to the returning Wooster volleyball players after being introduced Thursday as the next head coach.(Photo: Jim Krajewski)